Storm-front for vehicles.



No. 848,769. PATENTED- APR. 2, 1907.

H 1). PURSELL. STORM FRONT 1- 011 VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY'IB, 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STORM-FRONT FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 2, 1907.

Application filed July 13,1906. Serial No. 326,028.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY D. PURSELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington Court-House, in the county of Fayette and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Storm-Fronts for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in storm-fronts for vehicle-tops; and the objects of my invention are to provide an improved construction of storm -front for vehicle-tops of such construction and arrangement of parts as to admit of its being readily connected with or disconnected from a vehicle-top, to so construct the same as to ad mit of the upper portion of my device being employed as a window and to permit of the framework of said window portion being swung upward and held in an open or elevated position without interfering with the storm-apron, and to produce other improvements in details of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully pointed out hereinafter.

These objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a buggy top and bed, showing a portion of said top'broken away and showing my improved storm-front in connection therewith, said storm-front being shown in section. Fig. 2 is an inner side elevation of a portion of my improved stormfront; and Fig. 3 is a detail view in elevation, showing a portion of one of the jointed window-frame props which I employ in the manner hereinafter described.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In carrying out my invention I employ a yoke-shaped frame, of which 1 represents the horizontal top bar, and 1" the downwardlyextending end bars or frame-pieces. This frame, as indicated in the drawings, has its upper opposing corners 1 rounded to facilitate its proper insertion within the upper corner portions of the vehicle-top. The side frame portions 1 have their forward faces covered by strips of flexible and preferably waterproof material 2, which, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawings, overlap or project from. said frame sides. The upper frame-bar has its forward face likewise covered by flexible material 8, which covering projects beyond the sides of said frame, and

said projecting portion is rounded or curved, as show Secured to the upper cross-bar of the frame 1 at desirable points are metallic hooklike projections 4, which extend upwardly from said frame-top and thence inwardly or rearwardly. WVithin the frame 1 I hinge a window-frame 5, which incloses' and carries a glass plate 6. As indicated in the drawings at 7, the outer side of each end of the window-frame is recessed, and near the lower portion of each of these recesses is pivoted one end of a prop-bar 8, which is formed at its outer or upper end with a lateral stop projection 8*, this projection being adapted to engage the notch 9 formed in the outer end portion of a second prop-bar or prop-section 9, the outer end of which is pivoted to the outer end of the prop-section 8 and the remaining end of which is pivotally'connected with the inner side of the adjacent side framepiece 1*. To the lower or outer horizontal bar of the window-frame I also secure a strip of flexible material, which is indicated at 10, this strip extending downward or overlapping the edge of said window-frame bar, as shown in Fig. 1. In the lower portion of each of the side frame-pieces 1 I provide a suitable form of projecting hook or buttonhole-engaging device, as indicated at 11, and I also provide the outer portion of each of the side framebars 1 with a short strap 12, which is adapted to be engaged with a buckle 13, also supported from said frame. As shown at 14, I may provide the upper portions of the projecting flexible strips 2 with strings or wires which may be adapted to be fastened suitably to the forward top props of a vehicletop when the storm-front is in its position in said top.

In utilizing my device the frame 1 is inserted, in the manner indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, in the front and upper portion of a Vehicle-top, such as is shown at 15. The frame is supported in this position by causing the hook projections 4 to engage the valance of the top as shown. It is obvious that in order to insure this connection said hook portions 4: may be temporarily screwed or nailed into engagement with the valancebar, which is shown at 16. The frame and window thus inserted within the mouth of the vehicle-top are further secured in their position by buckling the straps 12 about the forward side bows 17 of the vehicle-top.

In order to complete the closure of the front of the vehicle-to p, a suitable rain-apron, 1 to or removed from the ordinary forms of vesuch as is shown at 18, has its upper portion hooked or buttoned into engagement with the catch projections 11 of the frame-pieces 1*. From this point said rain-apron extends outwardly and downwardly over the dash in the manner indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, thus forming a complete closure of the ordinarily open front of a buggy or other vehicle top.

When desired, it is obvious that the windowframe'5 may be swung upward within the upper ortion of the vehicle-top in the manner in icated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings. In order to support the window-frame in this elevated position, I have provided the supporting-bars 8 and 9 heretofore described. It is obvious that when the window-frame is raised to the position indicated in dotted lines the lateral projection 8 of the bar 8 will drop into the recess or notch 9 of the bar 9, and by so arranging this eonnection as to bring the pivotal point of the two bars, when the latter are depressed, below the center or below a straight line extending between the end pivot-points of said bars it is obvious that accidental upward movement of the pivoted bar ends and consequent releasing of the window will be obviated.

It will be observed that the upper portion of the frame 1 is somewhat shorter than the remaining portion thereof, thus insuring the ready and free insertion of the upper rounded end portions of said frame within the mouth of the vehicle-top frame. It will be understood, however, that any space or opening which may exist between the upper end portions of the frame 1 and the vehicle-top frame will be completely closed by the projecting portions of the flexible material 3. It will also be understood that when the window heretofore described is in its closed position the flexible strip 10 at the bottom of the window-frame will have its outer projecting edge portion bearing against the rainapron 18, thus preventing the )ossibility of water finding its way under said window-frame.

It will be observed that my improved storm-front is not only adapted to completely close the forward portion of a buggy or other vehicle against the entrance of rain, snow, &c., but that said front is of substantial construction and can be readily applied hicle-tops.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that simple and eflicient means are herein provided for accomplishing the objects of the invention; but while the elements shown and described are well adapted to serve the purposes for which they are intended it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction set forth, but includes within its purview such changes as may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is- 1. In a storm-front for vehicles, the combination of a frame 1, a window-frame hinged within said frame 1, prop-bars connected with said frame 1, a window-frame adapted to be supported by said prop-bars in an elevated position, top hooks connected with said frame 1 and adapted to engage the va lance-bar of a vehicle-top, apron-engaging devices carried by said frame 1, and an apron adapted to be detachably connected therewith.

2. In a storm-front for vehicles, the combination of a frame .1 having a facing of suitable fiexible material which overlaps the ends of said frame and is adapted to be secured at the sides of said frame to the front bow of a vehicle,valance-bar-engaging devices projecting from the upper side of said frame, a glass-carrying window-frame hinged within said first-mentioned frame, means for connecting the latter with the side piece of the vehicle, and means for supporting a flexible rain-curtain from said frame.

3. In a storm-front for vehicles, the combination with a rigid frame, of a windowframe hinged within said rigid frame, means for securing said rigid frame to a vehicle-top, flexible flaps secured to the ends of the frame and adapted to be secured about the front bow of a vehicle, an apron, and connections between the rigid frame and the apron for securing the upper edge of said apron directly to the rigid frame.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY D. PURSELL.

Witnesses:

J. H. CULHAN, P. E. DEMPSEY. 

